Straw-cutter



j. s. LASH.

Straw Cutter.

No. 25,789. Patented Oct. 11., 1859.

m wwis' I INITED PATENT ()FFIQE.

JOHN S. LASH, OF GARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ANDFRANKLIN KNAUSS, OF ALLENTOW'N, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRAW-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters. Patent No. 25,789, dated October 11, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. LASH, of Carlisle, in the county ofCumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedStraw and Stalk Cutter; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1, is a side sectional view of my invention taken in the line a,m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of ditto. Fig. 3, is atransverse vertical section of ditto, taken in the line y, y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference'indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

The invention consists in forming the bed adjoining the stationary knifein sections, each of which is allowed to yield or give to a certainextent and having the spiral beaters or followers formed with shoulderssubstantially as hereinafter described, whereby the cutting device isrendered much more efficient than it otherwise would be.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a feed box which is supported by a proper framing B. Thisfeed box is of the usual form and two feed rollers C, C, are placed nearits mouth or discharge end, said rollers being one over the other in thesame plane and operated by gearing a, from the driving shaft D, theuppermost roller C, being pressed down on the lowermost one by a springD.

On the driving shaft D, a cylinder E, is placed, said cylinder beingdirectly in front of the mouth of the feed box A, and having two spiralbeaters or followers I), b, on its two spiral beaters or followers 6, b,on its shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The spiral beaters or followersextend the whole length of the cylinder E. A fly wheel D, is also placedon shaft D, at one end.

Directly in front of the rollers G, C, a bed F, is placed. The bed isformed in sections,-three sections 0, are shown in Fig. 2, but more maybe used if necessary,three however would probably be sufficient. Thesections 0, are connected by a joint (Z, to the sides of the feed box.This joint is formed of a rod which passes loosely through eyes at theback part of the sections, one eye extending the whole width of eachsection.

'Each section 0, rests on a spiral spring 6,

said springs being supported by a traverse plate f, see Fig. 1.

Directly in front of the bed F, a knife G, is placed. The cutting edgeof this knife is uppermost and it is perfectly horizontal and near theouter edges of the sections 0,

'of the bed F. The basil by which the cutting edge of the knife isformed is at the back side of the knife as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

The cylinder E, is placed at such a distance from the knife G, that theedges of the beaters or followers Z), I), just pass over its edge, seeFigs. 1 and 2. By referring to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be seen that oneof the beaters or followers 6, I), is divided into three separate spiralsurfaces forming shoulders g, each spiral surface being equal in lengthto the width of the section as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows :The straw stalk or other substance A to becut, shown in red, is placed in the feed box A, and the shaft D, isrotated by any convenient power. The substance A", is fed along by therollers C, C, over the knife G, and the spiral beaters or followers 6,I), force the projecting end of the substance A down on the knife G, andthe substance is cut precisely with the same effect as if spiral cutterswere on the cylinder E, and the cutters made to pass over the edge of astationary bar or led er blade corresponding to the knife G. I3y havingthe bed E, made so as to yield or give said bed will be depressed durinthe action of the beaters or followers and the eliiciency of the knifemuch increased.

It will be seen that the spiral form of the beaters or followers 1), b,will have a tendency when acting on the substance or material A to becut, to throw said substance to one side of the feed box. This tendencyof the spiral beaters I avoid by means of the shoulders g, whichprevents the lateral movement of the substance A in the feed box. Inconsequence of having the shoulders g, the sections 0, are necessarilyemployed. If continuous spiral beaters or followers are used, the bed F,may be in one piece.

Thus it will be seen that a straight knife G, which may be readilysharpened and kept in repair is made in connection with the spiralrotating beaters or followers 7), b, to act precisely with the sameeffect as spiral cutters, and all the disadvantages of the latteravoided.

5 I do not claim broadly the spiral heaters 0r followers and a straightknife with a yielding bed; but

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

Forming the bed F, in sections 0, each being provided with a spring 6,and having the spiral heaters or followers rovided with shoulders g,substantially as s own to prevent the lateral movement of the straw or15 stalks in the feed box under the action of the heaters or followers.

JOHN S. LASH.

Witnesses R. T. CoGsWELL W. TUSOH.

